How Marilyn Monroe Lived: The Daily Routine of America's Most Desired Woman

Beneath the glamorous image of a Hollywood diva, Marilyn Monroe led an unexpectedly simple and even modest life. Contrary to popular myths, Marilyn did not indulge in luxury or spend days in endless entertainment. Her daily life was filled with work, study, and a constant desire for self-improvement.

Documentary evidence—interviews, memories of friends, and photographs from her personal archive—paints a portrait of a woman who woke up early, read extensively, studied acting, and dreamed of serious roles. Her day was meticulously planned, and her apartment resembled a library more than a Hollywood star's boudoir.

Main highlights from the article:

• Marilyn woke up at 5 or 6 a.m. and immediately took a salt bath;
• She spent most of her day reading—her library held over 400 books;
• She lived modestly: rented small apartments and cooked her own meals;
• Visited her psychoanalyst Dr. Greenberg three times a week;
• Practiced acting skills in front of the mirror every evening for an hour.

Early Rising and Morning Rituals

Contrary to the image of a night owl, Marilyn was a lark. In an interview in 1956, she admitted: “I get up at five or six in the morning. I can’t lie in bed—I lose the day.” Such a routine shocked her Hollywood colleagues, who were used to bohemian lifestyles.

Her first act was a salt bath, specially ordered by her. According to her, the salty water helped her wake up and prepare for work. The bath lasted at least 20 minutes—time for reflection and planning the day.

After the bath came breakfast of two raw eggs whisked in milk, followed by half an hour of reading. In the morning, Marilyn read newspapers—not gossip or society news—but serious political and social reporting. She wanted to stay informed about political events and societal processes.

Library Apartment

Marilyn never owned a mansion or rented luxurious apartments. She preferred small apartments in quiet Hollywood neighborhoods. Her most famous was a two-bedroom apartment on Doheny Drive, where she lived for several years.

The main feature of any of Marilyn’s homes was books. According to her friends’ memories, there were over 400 volumes in her last apartment on Helena Drive. Classical literature, philosophy, psychology, theater—Marilyn read voraciously and systematically.

There was minimal furniture: a bed, a writing desk, a few chairs, and endless bookshelves. No luxury or extravagance. “A home should encourage reflection, not distract,” Marilyn said.

Paintings were on the walls—mostly Goya and El Greco. The actress was passionate about art and planned to study the history of painting at university.

Study as Passion

Since 1955, Marilyn took acting classes with the legendary Lee Strasberg at Actors Studio. Classes were held three times a week for two hours each. The actress took them extremely seriously and never missed a session.

At home, she practiced daily in front of the mirror, working on her expressions and gestures. Neighbors reported hearing fragments of Shakespeare and Chekhov plays from her apartment.

Besides acting, she studied French with a private tutor. She dreamed of acting in European films and speaking with intellectuals in their native language.

Visits to the Psychoanalyst

From 1960, Marilyn regularly visited Dr. Ralph Greenberg— one of Los Angeles’ top psychoanalysts. Sessions were held three times a week for an hour and were sacred in her schedule.

Marilyn genuinely believed in the power of psychoanalysis and recommended therapy to all her friends. “I study myself as a role,” she explained her fascination with psychology.

In her free time, she read Freud, Jung, and modern psychological studies. Her library held serious works on this subject.

Working at the Studio

When Marilyn was filming, her workday started at 6 a.m. with makeup. The process of transforming into a Hollywood star took 2–3 hours: makeup, hair, costume selection.

Between takes, she didn’t gossip with colleagues but read. She always carried a book—usually classical or contemporary fiction. Colleagues remembered seeing her reading Joyce or Dostoevsky in the studio.

Marilyn approached work with perfectionist dedication. She could reshoot scenes dozens of times to achieve the perfect result. This frustrated directors but ensured top-quality performances.

Physical Exercises

Marilyn went to the gym three times a week, worked with weights, and did stretching exercises. Sessions lasted an hour or more under the guidance of a personal trainer.

She particularly focused on posture and gait. The famous “Marilyn Monroe walk” was the result of special exercises and constant self-improvement.

On weekends, she took long walks on the beach. She walked alone, in dark sunglasses and a scarf, enjoying solitude and time to think.

Evening Habits

Marilyn usually dined at home at 7 or 8 p.m. She cooked her own meals—simple dishes made with quality ingredients. After dinner, she always spent an hour working on roles or reading professional literature.

Before bed, she took another bath—this time with aromatic oils to relax. She went to sleep no later than 10 p.m. to ensure rest before the early morning wake-up.

She rarely watched TV, preferring reading or listening to classical music. She especially loved Chopin and Debussy.

Social Life

Contrary to myths about a bustling social life, Marilyn was quite introverted. She had few close friends and met with them infrequently.

She preferred intimate dinners at home for intellectual conversations with writers, directors, and psychologists. She only attended large Hollywood parties when necessary.

According to biographers, Marilyn felt uncomfortable in noisy groups. She preferred deep one-on-one conversations over superficial socializing.

Relationships with Money

Despite high salaries, Marilyn lived modestly. She gave most of her earnings to agents and managers, keeping only the essentials.

She didn’t hesitate to spend money on books—could spend a week’s budget on rare editions. She also invested in education: private lessons, courses, seminars.

She only bought expensive clothes for film shoots and public events. In daily life, she wore simple dresses and jeans, shocking her fans.

Relationships with the Press

Marilyn was cautious with journalists. She gave interviews only to serious publications and only on important topics. She ignored gossip and society news.

She didn’t tolerate photographers in her personal space. Her apartment was a sacred sanctuary, off-limits to strangers. Even close friends were warned in advance about visits.

Weekend Days

Saturday was her day for household chores: cleaning, laundry, shopping. She did everything herself without help. She found peace in domestic tasks.

Sunday was dedicated to culture: museums, theaters, concerts. She often went alone, enjoying the chance to be alone with art.

Occasionally, she would go into nature—into the mountains or to the ocean. These trips gave her energy and inspiration for work.

Plans and Dreams

Marilyn dreamed of serious acting education and theater roles. She planned to attend university to study literature.

She wanted to create her own production company and make films about important social issues. She believed cinema should not only entertain but also educate.

In her personal journals, she wrote plans to study psychology and possibly work as a psychotherapist after her acting career.

Struggle with Insomnia

Marilyn’s main problem was insomnia. Despite going to bed early, she often couldn’t sleep for hours. She read late into the night or listened to music.

She only took sleeping pills in extreme cases, preferring natural methods: warm baths, herbal teas, meditation.

Insomnia worsened during stressful periods and creative searches. The actress kept a journal, writing down thoughts and feelings, which helped calm her.

Simplicity Behind the Glamour

Marilyn Monroe’s life was a paradox: behind the bright image of a Hollywood star lay a deeply intellectual person striving for knowledge and self-improvement.

Her daily routine more resembled that of a student or beginning actress than a Hollywood celebrity. Simplicity, discipline, and constant self-work defined her everyday life.

Perhaps it was precisely this inner depth and seriousness that made Marilyn so attractive and mysterious to her contemporaries and later generations.

Photo cover from: rbc.ru